Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Red
Dialogue Flex: "My heart belongs to you," she said.

The houses were decorated with pine boughs, tied with red bows and festooned with white LED lights that twinkled like stars. The most entertaining part of all of it was watching the dance Alice did between getting everything up as fast as she could while still not attracting too much attention to just how fast she moved. Edward told me she would be in the middle of hanging up lights, only to take them down again when she had a vision of Charlie asking her how it all had happened so fast.

"I don't know you humans stand it," she complained to me. "It takes you so long to put it up, and then so long to take it all down, how do you enjoy it in between?"

"Satisfaction in a job well done?" I offered, but she shook her head and went back to work.

The meal fell to me, since I was the only human who could cook. Edward helped, but I shooed Alice from the kitchen when I caught her adding butter to the rib roast. It didn't matter if Paula Dean said butter made everything better, it wasn't going on the roast.

Carlisle took the rest of the group shopping, leaving us in peace to get everything prepared. Edward found it amusing that I cooked all day on Christmas Eve, but I liked to relax on the big day. When the pies were cooling, the roast was prepped, and the casseroles were ready for the oven, Edward walked me back to my cottage. He was quiet as he took my hand and led me up the stairs to my room.

"Are we going to make out?" I asked, getting a laugh.

"Maybe, but we have to take care of something first," he said, pulling me onto the bed beside him and dialing his phone.

I watched the display light up and heard the voice on the other end answer. "Why are you calling Jacob?" I asked.

"Hey Bells!" Jake shouted. "We're messing up Alice!" He was entirely too happy about this.

"How?" was all I got out before Edward put the phone in my hand and reached under the bed to pull out a box. "What?"

"Alice's present, from Jasper," Jacob explained as Edward quickly wrapped it with paper he got from my desk. "We tested it out before the wedding. Jasper decided to get Alice's shoes, but did so while I was at home and talking to him on the phone. Remember she was surprised he remembered? Well, we decided it worked, so he went shopping again, with me on the phone, and got her a necklace. Now Edward is supposed to be wrapping it?"

"He is," I said with a laugh. Oh, this could be fun.

"Good. Marta wants to talk to you, but we don't know if having me close to the phone works or if we both have to be on it. So, we're not taking chances. You can talk to her later." He then went on to describe all the things they'd done on their honeymoon that are appropriate to share. It seems he talked her into skydiving, horseback riding, helicopter rides, scuba diving and kayaking. Marta wasn't an outdoorsy person, so I was in hysterics listening to him describe her reactions to each activity.

"Has she asked for a divorce yet?" I asked as Edward deftly tied a perfect bow.

"About a hundred times," he said with a laugh. "Usually followed by death threats."

"Done," Edward said, reaching for the phone. "Now we need to go on a little walk." They chatted about the classes Jacob would be taking in the spring, apparently he had finally been accepted, followed by what I was cooking, what they were doing for Christmas, and any other topic under the sun. They weren't sure if they needed to have constant communication going or not, but again weren't willing to risk it until Edward stuck the package by the trunk at a height Jasper could easily reach.

Then Edward hung up the phone. "Hey, I was going to talk to Marta," I fussed, giving him a small pout.

He grinned. "I thought you were going to make out with me?" he asked, holding out his hand, asking me to take it. Marta smarta.

Christmas dawned beautifully. A light snow was falling, making the grounds look magical. The smell of cinnamon buns baking greeted my nose, informing me that Edward had been busy during the night. But the best of all was that same man in my bed, lightly kissing me awake.

"Morning," I breathed out between kisses.

"Mmm," he replied. "It most definitely is. People are moving at the house, should we go and open presents?"

I snuggled down more into the covers, wrapping my arms around him. "I have my present right here."

"Corny, but…" he stopped kissing me, and then laughed when I pouted but didn't return. Instead he left the bed and was back in one of his blindingly quick moves. "Now you do have your present here." There was a small box on my right knee.

My breath froze in my lungs. "What is it?" I asked in a whisper.

"Open it," he said just as quietly, moving so he was slightly behind me and wrapping his arm about my waist.

I just stared at the little box. "Is it what I think it is?"

"Yes." After another minute he shot his hand out and removed the paper. A tear coursed down my cheek as he opened it to a beautiful ring. "It was my mother's, but if you want something different…" I stopped him by placing my finger on his lips.

"It's perfect." He took the ring from the box and held it up, his eyes asking the question. I nodded, hiccupping a sob of happiness as it slid onto my finger. "This is going to kill Charlie for sure."

Edward pulled me in closer to his body. "No, but he will have a few more grey hairs tomorrow." We sat there for a moment looking at the ring on my finger. It split the light into a rainbow on the far wall, so I twisted my hand as I watched in wonder. "They're waiting for us."

"I should get dressed."

"I'll wrap up the rolls," he said with a kiss to my temple. Then his face split into a grin. "Do you have any idea how happy this makes me?"

I let out a laugh and placed my hand over my heart. "Yeah, I think I do."

When we got to the house Alice danced over to me and grabbed my hand, shrieking with joy. She was soon joined by all the other women, oohing and awing over my ring. Charlie looked like he was eating something sour, but gave me a hug and a kiss. "He's a good guy from a good family. You chose well," he said, and for him that was complete acceptance.

Gifts were handed around and enjoyed, but the room froze when Jasper reached into the tree. Actually, Alice froze, causing everyone else to react the same, as she watched Jasper walk over to her. "How?" she asked, then her eyes narrowed. "Jacob." The rest of the room laughed.

She tore into the wrapping with zeal, and opened a flat, square box that held a necklace with a diamond heart. "I wanted to give you my heart," Jasper said, making my mother almost swoon.

"My heart belongs to you," she said.

"I know," he replied, taking the necklace and walking behind her to fasten it. "Now you have mine, so you won't be without."

All the couples turned to each other for a kiss. That is when I noticed Charlie pull out a cell phone and send a text. I wished Sue could have been here.

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies! May your life be filled with love.